
Disney Reframes Star Wars and Moana After Box Office Misses
Disney is broadening how it describes franchise performance after “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” and the live-action “Moana” fell short of its theatrical expectations. The company is emphasizing how both releases supported streaming, merchandise, gaming, and theme park activity, while their box office totals remain part of the record. Key Takeaways Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro acknowledged the films’ weaker-than-expected theatrical performance on August 5, 2026. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” had earned about $345.2 million worldwide by early August. The live-action “Moana” had reached about $263.8 million worldwide. Disney linked the “Star Wars” release to retail, gaming, and theme park activity. The company expects “Moana” to attract additional viewing on Disney+. Disney placed the theatrical results of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and “Moana” within a wider franchise strategy during its fiscal third-quarter earnings discussion on August 5. Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro said the films did not meet the company’s box office expectations. He then pointed to activity generated elsewhere, including consumer products, streaming, games, and theme parks. That acknowledgment separates two measures. A film can fall below an internal theatrical target while still directing attention toward products and experiences connected to the same characters. The reported totals explain the scrutiny. “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which returned “Star Wars” to theaters for the first time since 2019, had earned about $345.2 million worldwide by August 6. Approximately $177.7 million came from the United States and Canada. The live-action “Moana” had generated about $263.8 million worldwide, including $117.2 million domestically. It opened with $43.1 million in North America and carried a reported production budget of $250 million. Those totals do not establish final profitability. Studios share theatrical revenue with exhibitors, while marketing and later distribution also affect the broader financial result. The figures do show a wide gap between these releases and







































